Two years ago, 12 and a half inches
of rain water fell in just 24 hours

0:16:39

0:16:43

on Cockermouth in Cumbria.

0:16:43

0:16:46

The RNLI,
along with other emergency services,

0:16:46

0:16:48

helped rescue 300 people

0:16:48

0:16:51

cut off or swept away
by flood water.

0:16:51

0:16:54

Carl Sadler was on the front line.

0:16:54

0:16:56

How much does this training prepare
you for those real situations?

0:16:56

0:17:01

-It's quite different to rivers.

-Yeah, it's...

0:17:01

0:17:04

When I was in Cockermouth,

0:17:04

0:17:06

it was the volume of water coming
straight through the high street.

0:17:06

0:17:10

It reminds me of this situation here.

0:17:10

0:17:12

Does it really?

0:17:12

0:17:14

The actual rocks
underneath the water here

0:17:14

0:17:16

represents the cars
and the trees underneath the water.

0:17:16

0:17:20

Roy, you were in Gloucester, at the
floods there. What was that like?

0:17:20

0:17:24

We didn't have quite the same
speed of water

0:17:24

0:17:27

they had in Cockermouth,

0:17:27

0:17:29

but it was the sheer scale.
It was over a number of counties.

0:17:29

0:17:32

Their resources were thin
on the ground.

0:17:32

0:17:35

We were continuously
on the go for about 72 hours.

0:17:35

0:17:39

And when you are faced with
a situation like Cockermouth,

0:17:39

0:17:42

-did you go straight into RNLI mode?

-You don't have time to get shocked,

0:17:42

0:17:46

because it is straight in.

0:17:46

0:17:47

At Cockermouth, our recce
was to get in there,

0:17:47

0:17:51

see what's happening,

0:17:51

0:17:53

because we were the first boats
into Cockermouth High Street.

0:17:53

0:17:56

Before these guys
can think about rescuing people

0:17:56

0:18:00

from fast-moving water,

0:18:00

0:18:01

they have to learn
to survive it themselves.

0:18:01

0:18:04

So swift-water training is vital.

0:18:04

0:18:06

The time is getting closer to when
I'm going to get in.

0:18:06

0:18:09

You'd better tell me
the best way of getting out!

0:18:09

0:18:12

Either side we've got
a flat section of water.

0:18:12

0:18:14

This side, they're called eddies.

0:18:14

0:18:16

The main flow is the jet
in the middle.

0:18:16

0:18:18

We are working between the eddies.

0:18:18

0:18:20

As you enter,
point your upper body upstream.

0:18:20

0:18:22

As your upper body
and head goes into the flow,

0:18:22

0:18:25

the current will whip you round
and try turning you downstream.

0:18:25

0:18:28

What you've to do it is
backward paddling and keep going.

0:18:28

0:18:32

Once the momentum
is taken out of the water,

0:18:32

0:18:34

you'll find it is slack and calm,
you are not going anywhere.

0:18:34

0:18:37

At that point, try rolling towards
the other side, like a log roll,

0:18:37

0:18:41

and that will take you into the eddy.

0:18:41

0:18:43

Right, let's see what happens.

0:18:43

0:18:44

The lovely thing about this is that
the RNLI is an arm's reach away!

0:18:44

0:18:49

'Here I go.'

0:18:51

0:18:53

'The current is incredibly strong.

0:18:56

0:19:00

'I have to fight
to get the other side.'

0:19:00

0:19:02

Whoo!

0:19:06

0:19:08

Yes!

0:19:08

0:19:09

It's just a wall of water, man.

0:19:09

0:19:12

You're paddling away,
doing a little turn,

0:19:12

0:19:15

spot the shore, grrr,
dig in and go.

0:19:15

0:19:19

But what a feeling!

0:19:19

0:19:20

That's invigorating,
I tell you what.

0:19:20

0:19:23

But I'm so happy to be doing it
in this environment,

0:19:23

0:19:26

with the protection of these lads.

0:19:26

0:19:28

Because it doesn't
bear thinking about,

0:19:28

0:19:31

that happening for real
in a flood situation.

0:19:31

0:19:35

'This is scary stuff.
And only the start of my training.'

0:19:36

0:19:40

'Later, I'll be thrown in
at the deep-end on Loch Etive,

0:19:40

0:19:43

'when I really
get put through my paces

0:19:43

0:19:46

'in some emergency
flood manoeuvres.'

0:19:46

0:19:48

This is emblematic
Scottish landscape.

0:19:55

0:19:58

Fresh clear water rushes down off
the surrounding mountains

0:19:58

0:20:01

through dense glens
into the glass-like loch.

0:20:01

0:20:05

The northern half of Loch Etive
is the least accessible

0:20:05

0:20:08

and therefore the most tranquil,

0:20:08

0:20:10

possibly one of the few
remaining places of true wilderness

0:20:10

0:20:13

left in the country.

0:20:13

0:20:14

And with that comes great
opportunities to spot wildlife.

0:20:14

0:20:19

'I've arranged for Philip Price

0:20:22

0:20:24

'to join me for the next leg
of my journey.'

0:20:24

0:20:27

-Some serious kit you've got there!

-It does the job.

0:20:27

0:20:30

'He's a wildlife photographer,

0:20:30

0:20:32

'passionate about the flora
and fauna of his homeland.'

0:20:32

0:20:35

What is it about Loch Etive that is
so great for wildlife photography?

0:20:39

0:20:44

The variety you get in Loch Etive
is absolutely astonishing.

0:20:45

0:20:50

Just where we are travelling now,

0:20:50

0:20:51

that is the back
of Ben Cruachan up there.

0:20:51

0:20:54

On the top of Ben Cruachan
you will get hares,

0:20:54

0:20:57

all the real mountain
alpine animals.

0:20:57

0:20:59

Then you come down the slopes
and you get these woodlands.

0:20:59

0:21:03

And there is a phenomenal
place for red squirrels.

0:21:03

0:21:07

You come down into the loch side

0:21:07

0:21:08

and you will get cormorants,
shags, eiders,

0:21:08

0:21:11

you name it, you've got
all of your marine life down here.

0:21:11

0:21:14

We have even seen
otters along the coast.

0:21:14

0:21:16

So, in terms of diversity,
you simply can't beat Loch Etive,

0:21:16

0:21:19

it's a wonderful place.

0:21:19

0:21:21

'After venturing north to
the quietest part of the loch,

0:21:21

0:21:25

'we find what we were looking for.'

0:21:25

0:21:27

-Aren't they awesome? Look at that.

-You couldn't dream up that scene.

0:21:27

0:21:33

It's just mind-boggling.

0:21:33

0:21:34

To see this many here,
in this location.

0:21:34

0:21:37

I come here regularly,
but... It's just astonishing.

0:21:37

0:21:43

We ought to take a picture,
since we are here.

0:21:43

0:21:45

What I've noticed is
you stuck me on auto.

0:21:45

0:21:47

We are going to change that.

0:21:47

0:21:49

If you zoom to 300 mil,
it gives you maximum zoom.

0:21:49

0:21:52

We will put it on aperture priority

0:21:52

0:21:54

and that is the technical term

0:21:54

0:21:55

that means you control
how blurry the background is

0:21:55

0:21:58

and the camera then helps you with
controlling how much light to let in

0:21:58

0:22:01

and correctly exposing.

0:22:01

0:22:03

-Just have a go then?

-Fire away.

0:22:03

0:22:04

Get the centre square, when you look
through the viewfinder,

0:22:04

0:22:08

right over the animal's head.

0:22:08

0:22:09

That means the head is in focus.
When looking through the lens,

0:22:09

0:22:13

-you will see how gorgeous
these animals are.

-It's amazing.

0:22:13

0:22:17

-Best in show there for the
photographic competition!

-Definitely!

0:22:17

0:22:21

And just the scenery
and the wildlife.

0:22:21

0:22:24

I was hoping we would see seals,
but you never know.

0:22:24

0:22:28

And when it happens...

0:22:28

0:22:29

I'll never get bored with doing
wildlife photography,

0:22:29

0:22:32

because that unknown,

0:22:32

0:22:33

so when it happens,
it makes it all the more sweeter.

0:22:33

0:22:37

Oh, wow, look at that.

0:22:37

0:22:39

If you want to get close
to wildlife in the great outdoors,

0:22:46

0:22:49

the BBC has teamed up
with a range of partners

0:22:49

0:22:52

who offer activities
throughout the UK.

0:22:52

0:22:54

Go to our website
and click on "things to do".

0:22:54

0:22:58

James is somewhere over
that mountain,

0:22:58

0:23:01

where water is the key ingredient.

0:23:01

0:23:03

This is the 100ft Cruachan Dam,
which holds back a huge reservoir.

0:23:06

0:23:11

It looks something like a scene
out of a James Bond movie.

0:23:11

0:23:14

Impressive, huh?

0:23:14

0:23:17

JAMES BOND THEME TUNE

0:23:17

0:23:20

The name's Wong, James Wong.

0:23:22

0:23:24

You didn't really think I was
going to do that, did you?

0:23:35

0:23:38

Well done, Andy! Congratulations.

0:23:38

0:23:40

I don't have a licence to kill,

0:23:40

0:23:42

I don't even have
a licence to drive.

0:23:42

0:23:44

The closest I am going to come
to Pierce Brosnan

0:23:44

0:23:46

is the fact that scenes from
the film The World Is Not Enough

0:23:46

0:23:49

were shot right here,
deep inside this mountain.

0:23:49

0:23:53

'That's because buried 1,000ft
below these thistles

0:23:53

0:23:56

'is one of the country's most
amazing engineering achievements.'

0:23:56

0:24:00

A revolutionary hydropower station.

0:24:03

0:24:06

The first of its kind in the world
and built nearly 50 years ago.

0:24:06

0:24:10

'From the top of the dam,
you can see right down to Loch Awe,

0:24:12

0:24:16

'which is connected to the reservoir

0:24:16

0:24:18

'by underground pipes that
travel through the power station.'

0:24:18

0:24:21

Michael Mullen
worked here for 39 years.

0:24:21

0:24:25

I still can't believe that 1,000ft
below that it is a power station.

0:24:25

0:24:29

How did they build it?

0:24:29

0:24:31

It was dug out by a big machine,
which rotated and dug it out.

0:24:31

0:24:37

All the tunnels that were built were
done by drilling and blasted out.

0:24:42

0:24:46

EXPLOSION

0:24:46

0:24:48

You'd never believe it.
It looks such a natural space.

0:24:48

0:24:51

That must have been hundreds
and hundreds of tonnes of rock

0:24:51

0:24:54

hewn right out of the mountain.

0:24:54

0:24:56

Thousands of tonnes, yes.

0:24:56

0:24:58

The health and safety
wasn't what it is today.

0:24:58

0:25:01

It must have been pretty horrendous.

0:25:01

0:25:03

Cruachan was revolutionary.

0:25:04

0:25:07

It was the first plant
that could store electricity.

0:25:07

0:25:11

Allow me to explain simply.

0:25:11

0:25:13

The generators are powered by water

0:25:13

0:25:15

travelling from the reservoir
to the loch through its turbines.

0:25:15

0:25:19

But here's the clever bit.
The turbines are reversible.

0:25:19

0:25:23

This means that during the night
when we are asleep,

0:25:23

0:25:25

they can use the excess electricity
to pump the water from the loch

0:25:25

0:25:29

back up to the reservoir,

0:25:29

0:25:30

ready for driving the turbines
when we need the power most.

0:25:30

0:25:34

Mechanical genius.

0:25:34

0:25:35

Unbelievably, the pylons
which carry the electricity

0:25:39

0:25:43

have been taken off-line
for repairs

0:25:43

0:25:46

for the first time in 50 years.

0:25:46

0:25:48

I hope someone is keeping
a GoldenEye on the off switch,

0:25:48

0:25:51

You Only Live Twice!

0:25:51

0:25:52

Once a year the heart
of the power station

0:25:52

0:25:54

gets some essential
maintenance work done

0:25:54

0:25:56

and I've been given
special permission

0:25:56

0:25:58

to go right down
into the control room.

0:25:58

0:26:00

It's a part the public
don't normally get to see.

0:26:00

0:26:03

You might say it's For Your
Eyes Only. Good to meet you.

0:26:03

0:26:07

Getting inside means a short
drive down a long tunnel.

0:26:07

0:26:11

'I'm trying not to think

0:26:14

0:26:15

'of the half of a mile of solid rock
above my head.

0:26:15

0:26:18

'I'd prefer to Die Another Day.'

0:26:18

0:26:20

-We can go down up to a kilometre
down here.

-This is a kilometre long?!

0:26:22

0:26:25

-One kilometre long.

-This is your
drive to work every day?!

0:26:25

0:26:28

-I drive to work every day, yes.

-It's like a bat cave inside here.

0:26:28

0:26:31

It's quite exciting.

0:26:31

0:26:33

'This might be all in a day's work
for engineer Alastair Dewar,

0:26:33

0:26:36

'but it's scaring
The Living Daylights out of me!'

0:26:36

0:26:39

OK, James, this is the tally to let
them know we are in here.

0:26:39

0:26:43

-You check in.
Yep.

-And we'll just head in.

0:26:43

0:26:47

Wow! This ceiling!

0:26:47

0:26:50

-Yes.

-This is where it all happens?

-This is where it all happens.

0:26:50

0:26:54

We're lucky today, there's only
one machine ticking over,

0:26:54

0:26:57

or we wouldn't be able to speak.

0:26:57

0:26:59

'The space inside
this mountain is immense.'

0:27:00

0:27:03

'Apparently, you could fit
the Tower of London in here.'

0:27:03

0:27:06

These are the turbines
that get spun round

0:27:06

0:27:08

by the water generating electricity?

0:27:08

0:27:10

-Yes. We've got three levels.

-I'm not going to look over too much!

0:27:10

0:27:14

-This goes three or four
times below the floor.

-Yes.

0:27:14

0:27:19

At the top is a small motor and the
next floor is the main generators.

0:27:19

0:27:24

And then another level down is
the actual heart of the turbine.

0:27:24

0:27:29

You really can't forget
you are underground

0:27:29

0:27:33

because you see the exposed rock.

0:27:33

0:27:36

I don't know how I'd feel
about working here.

0:27:36

0:27:38

It's an amazing design but, yes,
you feel hemmed in,

0:27:38

0:27:41

ironically,
when there is a big ceiling.

0:27:41

0:27:44

When the turbines are working
at maximum capacity,

0:27:50

0:27:53

they are kicking out 440 megawatts
of electricity to the grid

0:27:53

0:27:57

in less than 30 seconds.
Now, that's fast.

0:27:57

0:28:00

'That's enough to power a city
the size of Edinburgh.

0:28:00

0:28:05

'So next time you flick of the TV
to watch Countryfile,

0:28:05

0:28:08

'spare a thought for the 33 guys
working here, without natural light,

0:28:08

0:28:12

'to ensure the electricity
you need Tomorrow...Never Dies!'

0:28:12

0:28:16

Still to come
on tonight's programme...

0:28:18

0:28:23

'I'll be joining the RNLI

0:28:23

0:28:24

'on a training exercise
out on the loch...'

0:28:24

0:28:27

Everything seems to happen so fast.

0:28:27

0:28:29

..John's back with a reminder

0:28:29

0:28:31

of how to vote in the Countryfile
photographic competition...

0:28:31

0:28:34

..and, on Adam's farm, Eric the bull
is causing trouble again...

0:28:35

0:28:40

Come on, you naughty boy.
Your ladies are over there.

0:28:40

0:28:43

..plus, we'll have the weather
forecast for the week ahead.

0:28:43

0:28:47

Earlier in the programme,

0:28:56

0:28:57

John was investigating the rise
of the staycation.

0:28:57

0:29:00

But with a growing number
holidaying in Britain,

0:29:00

0:29:02

what impact is this having
on our countryside?

0:29:02

0:29:05

'I'm in the Churnet Valley,
a treasured part

0:29:13

0:29:15

'of the Staffordshire Moorlands,
rich in history and natural beauty.'

0:29:15

0:29:20

'But with more visitors
coming every year,

0:29:20

0:29:23

'there are those wanting to
capitalise on the tourism.'

0:29:23

0:29:26

There are plans to turn this
valley into a tourism corridor

0:29:26

0:29:30

leading up towards the Peak District,

0:29:30

0:29:32

with more accommodation, attractions
and hopefully many more visitors.

0:29:32

0:29:37

But how might that affect the
identity, the character of this area?

0:29:37

0:29:40

And would it spoil
its natural beauty?

0:29:40

0:29:43

'Some people certainly think so.

0:29:45

0:29:47

'John Higgins has lived
in the Churnet Valley

0:29:47

0:29:49

'for the last 20 years.'

0:29:49

0:29:51

How do you detect the mood

0:29:51

0:29:52

of local people about this plan
to boost tourism?

0:29:52

0:29:54

Fear and trepidation I think is the
answer, John. I am worried about it.

0:29:54

0:30:00

What we really want to do is,
we are not against tourism,

0:30:00

0:30:03

very much far from it.

0:30:03

0:30:05

We want tourists in the valley, but
we want the right kind of tourists.

0:30:05

0:30:08

What we need is the kind of tourists
who are going to come

0:30:08

0:30:12

and spend their money in the valley
at the local places.

0:30:12

0:30:15

We've got all the infrastructure here

0:30:15

0:30:16

to support walkers, cyclists,
horse riders.

0:30:16

0:30:19

But the idea is to get many more
people in here,

0:30:19

0:30:22

and that will have an impact.

0:30:22

0:30:23

I don't say that that's wrong.

0:30:23

0:30:25

I want to keep the money in the
valley, I don't want large hotels.

0:30:25

0:30:29

I don't want a huge developments that
people will only come to by car

0:30:29

0:30:32

and will stay there
and go home at the end of the day.

0:30:32

0:30:35

That does not profit
the local economy.

0:30:35

0:30:37

These worries aren't confined to
the Churnet Valley,

0:30:37

0:30:40

because across the country

0:30:40

0:30:41

businesses are keen to benefit
from the boom.

0:30:41

0:30:45

An indication of the investment
that's now going into rural tourism

0:30:45

0:30:49

comes with the news that one
of Britain's biggest hotel chains

0:30:49

0:30:52

is going to build 37 hotels near to
our top countryside locations.

0:30:52

0:30:57

It's going to focus in particular
on areas close to national parks.

0:30:57

0:31:02

That's going to raise some eyebrows.

0:31:02

0:31:04

So can tourism ever really
blend into the landscape?

0:31:04

0:31:09

There's one high-profile development
which claims to have done just that.

0:31:09

0:31:14

I've come out to
Wales, to Pembrokeshire,

0:31:14

0:31:16

to a holiday village where cars have
to be left on the outside.

0:31:16

0:31:20

It opened only three years ago in
the very heart of the National Park.

0:31:20

0:31:24

So when it was first proposed,
there were concerns about

0:31:24

0:31:27

the possible impact this place would
have on this very beautiful area.

0:31:27

0:31:31

Concerns which
we reported at the time.

0:31:31

0:31:34

Back then there were fears,

0:31:34

0:31:36

not just about the effect on
the countryside,

0:31:36

0:31:38

but also that it would take tourists
away from existing businesses.

0:31:38

0:31:43

The proposed development is
such a large one,

0:31:43

0:31:46

the impact on local tourism
could be cannibalisation

0:31:46

0:31:51

of self-catered accommodation.

0:31:51

0:31:53

It's almost a one-horse bet
on local tourism.

0:31:53

0:31:56

Despite the objections,
the development got the go-ahead.

0:31:56

0:32:00

So how does it
sit in the landscape today?

0:32:00

0:32:02

Perhaps, not surprisingly,
the boss, William McNamara,

0:32:02

0:32:06

feels that it works well.

0:32:06

0:32:08

This is where
your dairy cows used to graze

0:32:08

0:32:11

when you took a huge financial
gamble on setting up this village.

0:32:11

0:32:14

-Staycation paying off for you?

-Yes, it is now.

0:32:14

0:32:17

-This is farming but in a different
way.

-You're farming people here.

0:32:17

0:32:21

Farming tourists.

0:32:21

0:32:22

When the plans were first
put forward for this village

0:32:22

0:32:25

there were concerns, weren't there?

0:32:25

0:32:27

People were worried it might
ruin a part of the National Park.

0:32:27

0:32:31

Yes, and we were very sensitive to
that through the planning process.

0:32:31

0:32:35

But what we've delivered is what
we said we would deliver.

0:32:35

0:32:38

You can see, we've planted
170,000 trees and shrubs.

0:32:38

0:32:43

Nothing breaks the horizon, so you
can't actually see it from outside.

0:32:43

0:32:47

We have over 200 suppliers to
the business

0:32:47

0:32:51

that are
Pembrokeshire-based companies.

0:32:51

0:32:53

Our guests stay at Bluestone

0:32:53

0:32:56

but see a lot of Pembrokeshire.

0:32:56

0:32:58

It is so important to put money
back into the area.

0:32:58

0:33:01

In fact, it's claimed that this
resort brings

0:33:01

0:33:04

between £8-10 million to the
local economy every year.

0:33:04

0:33:10

The site also supports
a co-operative of 15 farmers

0:33:10

0:33:14

who all grow
crops for the development.

0:33:14

0:33:18

Miscanthus, origin of Asia,
it's grass similar to bamboo.

0:33:18

0:33:22

We chip it and blend it
with woodchip

0:33:22

0:33:25

and burn it in the bio-mass boilers
to supply the heat for Bluestone.

0:33:25

0:33:30

So a project like this is bringing
together tourism and agriculture.

0:33:30

0:33:33

Yes. In this rural area
of Pembrokeshire I think the two

0:33:33

0:33:37

main wealth creators in the rural
area are farming and tourism.

0:33:37

0:33:41

They do fit well together.

0:33:41

0:33:44

Despite the sensitive nature of the
Bluestone National Park Resort,

0:33:44

0:33:48

there are still some local people
who wish it had never been built.

0:33:48

0:33:53

So back in Staffordshire,

0:33:53

0:33:56

are there lessons that can be
learnt for the Churnet Valley?

0:33:56

0:33:59

This is idyllic, Andrew,
pottering along on the canal,

0:33:59

0:34:02

but earlier on we were talking
about plans to turn the valley

0:34:02

0:34:06

into a tourist corridor, encouraging
many more people to come here.

0:34:06

0:34:10

How do you do that without
spoiling the place?

0:34:10

0:34:13

What we've got to do it is anything
that is built in this valley,

0:34:13

0:34:17

it must be sympathetic, it must be
built with local materials.

0:34:17

0:34:21

-New hotels and things like that?

-Oh, yes, of course.

0:34:21

0:34:24

It's got to fit in,
and it's got to fit in also with

0:34:24

0:34:26

the residents as well.

0:34:26

0:34:28

What about the infrastructure of
the valley, lots of winding roads.

0:34:28

0:34:32

Many more people coming here would
cause traffic jams.

0:34:32

0:34:35

I think one of the most important
things is to get people

0:34:35

0:34:39

out of vehicles, on to the
alternative forms of transport.

0:34:39

0:34:42

We don't want to spoil what we've
got. That's absolutely fundamental.

0:34:42

0:34:46

It's clear that making the most
of the home-grown tourist boom

0:34:46

0:34:49

is going to be a balancing act.

0:34:49

0:34:51

It's great to think that
so many people

0:34:51

0:34:54

are rediscovering the beauty of
the British countryside,

0:34:54

0:34:57

and that rural economies
are feeling the benefit.

0:34:57

0:35:01

But we all have to be incredibly
careful that development

0:35:01

0:35:04

and high numbers of visitors
don't spoil the beauty

0:35:04

0:35:07

and tranquillity that brought people
here in the first place.

0:35:07

0:35:11

To me, to me!

0:35:11

0:35:12

After 12 months of hard graft,

0:35:24

0:35:27

the harvest is almost
over down on the farm.

0:35:27

0:35:29

But life for Adam never stops.
He's already preparing for next year.

0:35:29

0:35:34

Well, there's a good feeling
on the farm today

0:35:39

0:35:42

because harvest is virtually over,

0:35:42

0:35:44

the combine will be arriving
back in the yard this afternoon.

0:35:44

0:35:48

We've got through 300 acres
of winter rape

0:35:48

0:35:51

and then about 440 acres of barley.

0:35:51

0:35:53

And then 375 acres of winter wheat.

0:35:53

0:35:56

So there's been a lot of hard work
going on and the sheds

0:35:56

0:35:59

are now brimming with grain.

0:35:59

0:36:01

This shed holds around 900 tonnes.

0:36:01

0:36:03

We've got 600 tonnes
of milling wheat over there,

0:36:03

0:36:06

that'll go for making bread.

0:36:06

0:36:07

And on this side, we've got
around 300 tonnes of feed wheat,

0:36:07

0:36:11

this will go for animal feed.

0:36:11

0:36:13

And even though it's safe
and in the shed,

0:36:13

0:36:15

we still need to look after it.

0:36:15

0:36:18

We blow cold air through
the grain to keep cool

0:36:18

0:36:20

and we keep the moisture out.

0:36:20

0:36:22

It's very important because if this
gets wet and warm, that encourages

0:36:22

0:36:24

insects into the grain that
will eat it and that devalues it.

0:36:24

0:36:28

And at the moment the price
of wheat is high.

0:36:28

0:36:30

There's a worldwide shortage
which is keeping the price up.

0:36:30

0:36:34

Overall,
the harvest was pretty successful.

0:36:34

0:36:37

We were worried about the dry
spring, but June and July was good

0:36:37

0:36:40

and the berries filled up nicely.

0:36:40

0:36:43

Overall, we probably did a little
bit better than last year.

0:36:43

0:36:46

But my work doesn't stop here.

0:36:49

0:36:50

Now the fields have been harvested,
we need to get them working again.

0:36:50

0:36:55

While the weather is still
being kind to us,

0:36:55

0:36:57

we need to get on with our planting,
with the drilling.

0:36:57

0:37:01

And the ground is quite compacted

0:37:01

0:37:03

and needs turning over to
create a good seedbed.

0:37:03

0:37:07

That's where this bad boy
comes in handy.

0:37:07

0:37:10

You can see
the discs are cutting the ground

0:37:16

0:37:19

and then behind it are some great
big tines that are pulling

0:37:19

0:37:22

through the soil, and then
it's chopping up as it goes through.

0:37:22

0:37:26

And there is the tilth
that's left behind.

0:37:26

0:37:30

Nice, broken soil, full of moisture,
ready to plant the seed into.

0:37:30

0:37:35

The sooner we can get crops
back in the ground before the onset

0:37:35

0:37:39

of winter,
the better chance they'll have.

0:37:39

0:37:42

In the next field, I'm keen to check
on the crop I've already planted.

0:37:42

0:37:46

It's one I'm hoping the sheep
will benefit from.

0:37:46

0:37:49

These stubble turnips are
looking good.

0:37:49

0:37:51

They are what is
known as a catch crop.

0:37:51

0:37:54

People have grown the stubble
turnips and swedes for years.

0:37:54

0:37:57

What we're doing is grabbing
the opportunity to grow

0:37:57

0:38:00

a crop in between two others.

0:38:00

0:38:02

There was wheat in here,
now stubble turnips

0:38:02

0:38:05

and we'll plant spring
barley next February.

0:38:05

0:38:08

Stubble turnips are one
of the fastest growing catch crops,

0:38:08

0:38:11

producing nutritious
turnips in just 12 weeks,

0:38:11

0:38:14

which makes great use of the land.

0:38:14

0:38:16

And this is feed for the sheep
over the winter.

0:38:16

0:38:19

It'll carry on growing,
there'll be plenty of leaf

0:38:19

0:38:22

and the bulb on the bottom here
in the root will swell up to

0:38:22

0:38:25

be about the size of my fist.

0:38:25

0:38:27

This is full of sugar
and carbohydrates.

0:38:27

0:38:31

It will save us
on animal feed over the winter.

0:38:31

0:38:33

We won't have to feed concentrate
pellets or silage,

0:38:33

0:38:36

they can just live off these.

0:38:36

0:38:38

And because we're short of grass
this summer,

0:38:38

0:38:40

we decided to plant this field
to tide the sheep over winter,

0:38:40

0:38:45

to feed the lambs, and they should
fatten up really nicely on this.

0:38:45

0:38:49

But it's not just lambs born
in the spring that will

0:38:54

0:38:57

benefit from these stubble turnips.

0:38:57

0:38:59

This year we've had some late
arrivals on the farm.

0:38:59

0:39:03

We had about 15 or 20 ewes that
didn't conceive last autumn.

0:39:04

0:39:08

And while we were busy
lambing in the spring, we put them

0:39:08

0:39:12

back to the ram just to see
if it would work really, and it did.

0:39:12

0:39:16

Quite a few have got in lamb,

0:39:16

0:39:18

and here we are lambing
when most people lamb in the spring.

0:39:18

0:39:21

It's a bit odd really.

0:39:21

0:39:22

But these lambs will stay on
their mothers now,

0:39:22

0:39:25

they'll go out
on those stubble turnips.

0:39:25

0:39:27

Lovely little lambs. They're all
lambing in the field over there

0:39:27

0:39:31

and I'm taking the freshly born
ones to join the other newborns.

0:39:31

0:39:34

Come on then. Meep, meep.

0:39:34

0:39:38

Come on then. There he is.

0:39:38

0:39:43

We've got a set of triplets,
a set of twins

0:39:45

0:39:48

and two single lambs,
which is great news.

0:39:48

0:39:50

And these lambs will stay
with their mothers,

0:39:50

0:39:53

graze on the turnips and they'll be
ready for the table in February

0:39:53

0:39:56

when the price of lamb is high
because there's a shortage.

0:39:56

0:40:00

We've got a bit of a spring scene as
we turn the corner towards winter.

0:40:00

0:40:05

These aren't the only new arrivals.

0:40:11

0:40:15

One of my pigs has been busy
rearing her young, too.

0:40:15

0:40:19

This is one of our Iron Age sows.

0:40:19

0:40:21

She's a cross between a wild boar
and a Tamworth.

0:40:21

0:40:25

She's given birth to a lovely
litter of nine piglets in here.

0:40:25

0:40:29

We're going to have to turn them
all out into the field now.

0:40:29

0:40:32

We'll just separate her from her
piglets and put her on the front.

0:40:32

0:40:36

There's a good girl,
there's a good girl.

0:40:36

0:40:39

My sow can be a bit of a handful
because she's part wild boar.

0:40:39

0:40:43

But John's here to help.

0:40:43

0:40:44

Well done, John, good skills.

0:40:46

0:40:50

This is the easy bit, now
we just catch the little piglets.

0:40:50

0:40:56

PIGLETS SQUEAL

0:40:56

0:40:59

They're like wriggly little
rabbits. They're incredibly sweet.

0:40:59

0:41:05

The wild boar in them gives them
this stripiness,

0:41:05

0:41:08

which is like a camouflage.

0:41:08

0:41:11

Aren't they gorgeous?

0:41:11

0:41:13

These piglets are
about five days old.

0:41:15

0:41:18

They're in good health,
so I'm happy to let them

0:41:18

0:41:21

go out in the field to enjoy
the fresh pasture and open space.

0:41:21

0:41:24

So now we'll just carry the little
piglets and put them

0:41:24

0:41:27

in their new home and let the sow
out and she'll go and find them.

0:41:27

0:41:30

Three little pigs.

0:41:32

0:41:35

In you go.

0:41:35

0:41:37

Pigs are really hardy creatures,
so she'll live outside very happily.

0:41:40

0:41:44

That's where
I much prefer to see them.

0:41:44

0:41:46

-She's all right, John,
isn't she?

-Yeah.

0:41:46

0:41:48

She's a bit of an angry at the
moment, but tomorrow she'll be happy.

0:41:48

0:41:51

Yeah. Great. All right,
let's leave her be.

0:41:51

0:41:54

Not all of our animals are as small,
cute and easy to handle.

0:41:57

0:42:01

Out in the field, Eric is giving me
a bit of a headache.

0:42:01

0:42:03

I think he's having women problems.

0:42:03

0:42:05

This is Eric, my new Highland bull.

0:42:05

0:42:08

I bought him at the Oban cattle
sales in the spring,

0:42:08

0:42:10

and he's a wonderful looking animal.

0:42:10

0:42:12

I'm hoping he's going to really
improve my herd

0:42:12

0:42:15

with the calves that are born
next spring.

0:42:15

0:42:17

He's incredibly athletic
and powerful,

0:42:17

0:42:20

he's about a ton of solid muscle.

0:42:20

0:42:22

He can run fast
and he can cause a bit of damage.

0:42:22

0:42:24

He's already started sticking his
head in the fence and breaking it.

0:42:24

0:42:28

You can see he's getting interested
in my White Park cows.

0:42:28

0:42:31

They're coming into season and
he wants to get in with them.

0:42:31

0:42:34

And if he jumped this fence
and served one of these cows,

0:42:34

0:42:38

the calves would come out ginger
and I want them to be pedigree.

0:42:38

0:42:42

This is barbed wire and it's very,
very sharp.

0:42:42

0:42:44

And he's a shoving his neck down
and it, it must be hurting.

0:42:44

0:42:47

He's as tough as old boots.
So I'm going to have to shift him.

0:42:47

0:42:51

Come on, you naughty boy.
Your ladies are over there!

0:42:51

0:42:54

Go on, go on.

0:42:54

0:42:57

Go on, Eric.

0:43:07

0:43:09

He can turn from a big, bumbling,
ambling bull to this racing machine.

0:43:09

0:43:13

For a bull that weighs about a ton
he can't half shift.

0:43:13

0:43:16

And I've got to know him,
so I trust him,

0:43:16

0:43:18

but you do have
to be careful with these animals.

0:43:18

0:43:21

They're big and powerful,
and it's only because I know him

0:43:21

0:43:23

that I can move him
around like this.

0:43:23

0:43:27

He doesn't want to leave this
lovely grass. Go on!

0:43:29

0:43:32

He's pretty quiet, really.

0:43:32

0:43:37

Right.

0:43:37

0:43:38

I'll leave him
in there with his ladies now.

0:43:38

0:43:41

I'm hoping he's got some of them
in calf.

0:43:41

0:43:45

But a good solid gate, a barbed-wire
fence and then a stone wall -

0:43:45

0:43:49

that should keep him in.

0:43:49

0:43:50

Next week, I'm heading to Devon to
visit a farmer whose recently

0:43:52

0:43:55

adopted a large herd of traditional
English cattle

0:43:55

0:43:58

that are close to my heart.
Longhorns.

0:43:58

0:44:01

On the west coast of Argyll
in Scotland, Loch Etive

0:44:10

0:44:13

is where the sea water from the
Firth of Lorn meets the fresh water

0:44:13

0:44:16

filtering down through the mountains.

0:44:16

0:44:19

The nature of the loch is
pretty special.

0:44:19

0:44:22

The water is brackish, which means
that it's saltier than freshwater,

0:44:22

0:44:26

but not as salty as sea water.

0:44:26

0:44:28

Because of this, there's a huge
variety of fish species

0:44:30

0:44:32

in the loch, as many as 40.

0:44:32

0:44:36

Which means it's like a theme
park for anglers.

0:44:36

0:44:39

5,000 take to the water each year.

0:44:39

0:44:42

It may be good news for anglers,
but the water has also been

0:44:44

0:44:47

blamed in part for the decline
of an important industry on the loch.

0:44:47

0:44:51

We are approaching a mussel farm just
over there on the shore.

0:44:51

0:44:55

Really, it should be
a hive of activity,

0:44:55

0:44:57

pulling in the mussels and processing
them and getting them shipped off.

0:44:57

0:45:02

But it all looks a bit too quiet.

0:45:02

0:45:05

As these pictures from four
years ago show,

0:45:05

0:45:08

Walter Spears had
a thriving £250,000 a year business.

0:45:08

0:45:12

Today it's down to virtually nothing,

0:45:12

0:45:15

and the place has been
effectively mothballed.

0:45:15

0:45:18

So tell me about what's
happened to the farm.

0:45:18

0:45:20

The farm has really collapsed

0:45:20

0:45:22

because of the invasive species
that's arrived,

0:45:22

0:45:25

this Mytilus trossulus, which is not
of any value commercially.

0:45:25

0:45:28

We are really having to try
and eradicate it to try

0:45:28

0:45:31

and get this native stock of
edulis back on our lines again.

0:45:31

0:45:35

So edulis you do want,
nice and weighty.

0:45:35

0:45:37

-Nice and juicy.

-A nice juicy one.

0:45:37

0:45:39

And then on the other hand
we have these trossulus ones.

0:45:39

0:45:42

-If I just squeeze that, it just
crumbles.

-Just throw it away.

0:45:42

0:45:46

There's nothing inside there that
you would really want to eat.

0:45:46

0:45:50

-There's hardly anything in there.

-Hardly anything.

0:45:50

0:45:53

Definitely looks less attractive too.

0:45:53

0:45:56

This one, a nice meaty edulis. Nice
and fleshy and succulent to eat.

0:45:56

0:46:01

To give the edulis, or blue mussel,
a chance to re-establish,

0:46:03

0:46:08

the unwanted trossulus mussels are
being removed from the loch.

0:46:08

0:46:12

Marine Scotland Science are taking
water samples,

0:46:12

0:46:15

looking for signs

0:46:15

0:46:17

that the populations are changing
in the right direction.

0:46:17

0:46:20

So how did these two different
species end up here in the loch?

0:46:20

0:46:25

What we think may have happened is
that mussels may have

0:46:25

0:46:29

come across from Canada probably
around about 10,000 years ago.

0:46:29

0:46:32

So it's not one of these
alien invasions.

0:46:32

0:46:37

Probably not. The evidence that
we've got suggests that it probably

0:46:37

0:46:41

happened before human intervention.

0:46:41

0:46:43

So how then did trossulus
become dominant here?

0:46:43

0:46:46

We don't really know,
but one theory we have is

0:46:46

0:46:49

that the conditions in this loch may
have exacerbated the problem.

0:46:49

0:46:53

The fact that it's low salinity,
which trossulus likes.

0:46:53

0:46:56

And it also likes
living in the surface waters,

0:46:56

0:46:59

and low salinity water tends to
be at the surface.

0:46:59

0:47:01

And the introduction of all of these
mussel farms in the loch may

0:47:01

0:47:05

have provided it with a habitat
where it can flourish

0:47:05

0:47:08

and outcompete the native
blue mussel.

0:47:08

0:47:10

But for Walter and the whole
community, it's a slow recovery.

0:47:11

0:47:16

It must have been quite stressful
going through this process.

0:47:16

0:47:19

Sure, it was a difficult time
and not just for me.

0:47:19

0:47:22

There were five companies
working on this loch

0:47:22

0:47:25

and maybe 20 to 25 people
in full-time employment from it,

0:47:25

0:47:28

as well as all the lorry drivers
and things.

0:47:28

0:47:31

This loch at its peak was producing
1,000 tonnes of mussels a year.

0:47:31

0:47:34

So for that to have crashed to zero
now and for all these people to

0:47:34

0:47:38

have lost their jobs is significant
in an economy like Argyll and Bute.

0:47:38

0:47:42

In a moment we'll be finding out
what the weather has lined up for us.

0:47:47

0:47:51

But first, this is your very last
chance to vote for your favourite in

0:47:51

0:47:54

this year's photographic competition,
with its theme Best In Show.

0:47:54

0:47:57

Here's John with
a reminder of what you need to do.

0:47:57

0:48:01

We've given each of our final
photos a number,

0:48:01

0:48:04

and we'd like you to
vote for your favourite.

0:48:04

0:48:07

Calls cost 10p from a BT landline,
other operators may vary

0:48:07

0:48:11

and calls from mobiles will be
considerably higher.

0:48:11

0:48:16

Lines close at midnight tonight
and all the details

0:49:30

0:49:33

including the BBC's code of conduct
for competitions are on our website.

0:49:33

0:49:38

And we'll reveal the results of that
vote on October 9th,

0:49:38

0:49:42

along with the photo that the judges
have chosen as their favourite.

0:49:42

0:49:45

Thank you to everybody who's entered.
It's going to be an awesome calendar.

0:49:45

0:49:49

Now, here's the weather.

0:49:49

0:49:51

.

0:51:50

0:51:57

Loch Etive, a stunning 20-mile
stretch of dramatic scenery

0:52:08

0:52:13

and calm waters in the midwest
of Scotland.

0:52:13

0:52:15

It has everything a visitor could
ask for - undulating landscape,

0:52:15

0:52:19

beautiful views and diverse
wildlife.

0:52:19

0:52:22

But don't be fooled by its beauty,
this loch is highly dangerous.

0:52:23

0:52:27

The water here can
change from calm very quickly

0:52:27

0:52:30

to some of the fastest moving
white water in the United Kingdom,

0:52:30

0:52:33

making it ideal for the RNLI to
train for emergency flood rescue.

0:52:33

0:52:38

The international flood rescue team
was formed by the charity in 2000.

0:52:38

0:52:43

It's made up of three
teams of 20 people,

0:52:43

0:52:46

all of them on permanent standby
for disasters at home and abroad.

0:52:46

0:52:51

Every year they come to
places like Loch Etive to train.

0:52:51

0:52:55

Robin, I'm still here after
the swift water training,

0:52:55

0:52:58

which enables
me to move on to the next exercise.

0:52:58

0:53:01

Absolutely, you did really well.

0:53:01

0:53:03

Great swimming and I'm happy for you
to come out on the boat.

0:53:03

0:53:07

This morning we had 15 cubic metres
per second coming down the river.

0:53:07

0:53:11

-Yes.

-This afternoon we've got
4,500 cubic metres per second

0:53:11

0:53:14

-so we've stepped it up a little bit.

-Yes, but the boat is involved here.

0:53:14

0:53:17

We're moving up to our safe
operational platform

0:53:17

0:53:20

for working in floods.

0:53:20

0:53:21

We're much safer being on a boat
than in the water.

0:53:21

0:53:24

The general idea is to go out and
look at scenarios we've put together.

0:53:24

0:53:28

We've given these guys a toolbox of
skills and techniques in the training

0:53:28

0:53:32

so we need to allow them the
opportunity to put them into practice

0:53:32

0:53:35

and make their own assessment of how
to carry out a rescue.

0:53:35

0:53:39

What I need you to do is be
part of the crew.

0:53:39

0:53:42

Our first rescue scenario is
a report of a house

0:53:42

0:53:46

which has got one
person and a dog trapped inside.

0:53:46

0:53:49

The water is rising rapidly.

0:53:49

0:53:52

Robin wants these flood rescue
exercises to be as real as possible.

0:53:52

0:53:55

The idea here is we're almost
abseiling with a rip.

0:53:55

0:53:59

Because of the power of the water
we can't use the engines

0:53:59

0:54:03

so we're slowly letting
ourselves out.

0:54:03

0:54:06

We've managed to reach the window,
battling against the tide.

0:54:10

0:54:14

In a real-life situation, this would
mean the successful rescue

0:54:14

0:54:19

of people or animals trapped inside.

0:54:19

0:54:22

But the drama continues.

0:54:22

0:54:24

The idea here is that Roy will
get into the water upstream,

0:54:25

0:54:29

come down, and I'll throw the line
out to him, which he'll grab,

0:54:29

0:54:33

and then we'll pull him into
the boat. Here we go.

0:54:33

0:54:40

This exercise is used to practise
rescuing people

0:54:40

0:54:43

who have been swept
away by fast-moving flood water.

0:54:43

0:54:47

It's just so frantic,
everything seems to happen so fast

0:54:49

0:54:52

and you're so aware of the white
water and the torrents

0:54:52

0:54:56

and everything kicking
up behind you.

0:54:56

0:54:58

It really is like a one-show wonder.

0:54:58

0:55:01

Got him! The casualty is safe.

0:55:01

0:55:04

In order to get to those in trouble,

0:55:07

0:55:09

this job relies heavily on being
able to instantly react

0:55:09

0:55:12

to the environment around you,
and that means controlling the boat.

0:55:12

0:55:16

We're entering into the world
of high-speed turns

0:55:16

0:55:19

and these are used in a situation
where there isn't enough room

0:55:19

0:55:22

to turn around so the rest
of the crew act as ballast.

0:55:22

0:55:25

When our driver shouts right,
then we all lean to the right.

0:55:25

0:55:29

Cockermouth is a classic example,
so we're going down the High Street,

0:55:29

0:55:33

we can't do a three-point turn,

0:55:33

0:55:34

so you're spinning the boat
on a sixpence.

0:55:34

0:55:36

Here we go.

0:55:36

0:55:39

Glad I got to do the boat cruise!

0:55:49

0:55:52

What a day I've had.

0:56:00

0:56:01

To experience the power
of the water of this place

0:56:01

0:56:04

in the experienced hands of this lot
has been something else.

0:56:04

0:56:08

I've got so much respect for all
the work they do here

0:56:08

0:56:11

and all over the world.
What a team. What a team they are!

0:56:11

0:56:17

-Hello, hello.

-Hello,
how are you doing?

-Very good.

0:56:22

0:56:25

Judging by your attire,

0:56:25

0:56:27

I'm guessing your boat trip wasn't
as extreme as mine.

0:56:27

0:56:30

-It was quite sedate. We enjoyed the
view.

-That's all we've got time for.

0:56:30

0:56:34

Next week we're going to be in
the Garden of England, Kent,

0:56:34

0:56:36

home to the national fruit
collection

0:56:36

0:56:39

where we'll be sampling
apples fit for a king.

0:56:39

0:56:41

And we'll be trying our hand

0:56:41

0:56:43

at the at the local sporting
tradition of bat and trap.

0:56:43

0:56:45

-How about that?

-Does it involve
bag throwing or fast turns?

-No.

0:56:45

0:56:49

Right, well I'd better get changed.

0:56:49

0:56:51

You've only got a few more hours

0:56:51

0:56:53

to vote in our Countryfile
photographic competition.

0:56:53

0:56:56

All the details are on our website

0:56:56

0:56:58

and we'll reveal the results
on October 9th,

0:56:58

0:57:00

-along with the judges' favourite.
See you next week.

-Bye.

0:57:00

0:57:03

Subtitles by Red Bee Ltd

0:57:06

0:57:10

E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk

0:57:10

0:57:13

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison head to Scotland to explore Loch Etive. The fast, white waters make it the perfect training ground for the RNLI's international flood rescue team, as Matt finds out when he joins their ranks for the day. Meanwhile, Ellie discovers how a fluke of nature has brought local mussel farms to the brink of collapse and explores the industrial heritage behind one of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes.

And with more and more of us choosing to holiday in Britain, John Craven investigates the impact of the "staycation" on our countryside. Down on the farm, harvest is nearing its end - but has it proved fruitful for Adam?

Plus a reminder of how to vote for your favourite image in the Countryfile Photographic Competition.